Combination bed table



, Jan. 27, 1970 B. BLANKE 3,491 105 COMBINATION BED TABLE Filed March 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BERTRAM C. BLANKE ATTORNEYS Jan. 27, 1970 ,B. c. BLANKE COMBINATION BED TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March a, 1968 3,491,705 Patented Jan. 27, 1970 3,491,705 COMBINATION BED TABLE Bertram C. Blanke, 5980 Bigger Road, Dayton, Ohio 45440 Filed Mar. 6, 1968, Ser. No. 711,125 Int. Cl. A471) 23/00, 3/02 U.S. Cl. 10849 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination bed table having two tubular support members including a central horizontal section with short legs on one end thereof to engage the top of the bed and long legs on the other end to engage the floor adjacent the bed thus providing stability to the table. The legs are foldable and adjustable in length, and a flat tray or combination book rest-container can be removably secured to the horizontal member.

Background of the invention The use of lightweight metal tubing has achieved substantial acceptance and use in various types of furniture, and in particular in foldable trays or tables. Such tables are light weight, easily folded and stored, and are relatively inexpensive to manufacture. However, when a table having legs sufliciently long to be supported on the opposite sides of a bed is used, the legs have considerable height and therefore are relatively unstable and it is easy to spill liquids in containers resting on the table. It is also difficult to move this type of table into position over the patient resting in the bed because the length of the legs makes it unwieldy, and it is very difiicult to store this table.

Other types of tray tables utilized for a bed patient have relatively short legs at either end thereof, and thus do not suffer from the disadvantages created by the long legs as set forth above. However, when both legs rest on the surface of the bed, the entire table moves each time the patient moves or some other disturbance moves the mattress of the bed. It is therefore mandatory that there be little or no movement on the bed while this type of tray table is in position.

Summary of the invention A bed table having a pair of tubular members including parallel horizontal section with long legs on one end thereof for engaging the floor, and short legs on the other end thereof for engaging the top surface of the bed. Each pair of legs crosses and pivots on a common axis for folding. The lenght of the legs is adjustable for beds of different heights, and a removable tray is supported releasably on the horizontal sections. In another embodiment, a combination book rest and container is releasably and reversibly supported on the horizontal sections.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the bed table in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the bed table;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the long legs of the bed table taken from the left side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the short legs of the bed table taken from the right side of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the foot adjustment on each leg;

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of one portion of the combination book rest-container of FIG. 6 embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the book rest support leg; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the combination book rest-container in the position opposite that shown in FIG. 6.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring to FIG. 1, the bed table 10 in accordance with the invention is mounted for use with the bed 11 having a flat top surface 12. While the invention is described as being used with a bed, it is within the scope of the invention to utilize it with other pieces of furniture, such as couches and the like.

The bed table 10 includes a pair of tubular metal members 12 and 13 having the elongated horizontal sections 14 and 15 which extend parallel to each other and have a length which is preferably slightly less than the width of the bed 11. At one end of the horizontal sections 14 and 15, the elongated legs 16 and 17 extend downwardly generally perpendicular to the central section and have an upper tapered portion 18 and a longer lower portion 19 which extends downwardly in a slightly more vertical direction, to define an acute angle with the projected extension of the upper portion 18. This keeps the legs from being unduly awkward to manipulate adjacent the bed. The upper portions 18 of the elongated legs 16 and 17 cross at and are interconnected by the pivot pin 22 to secure the legs together while permitting relative pivotal movement thereof.

Each of the lower sections 18 of the elongated legs has an adjustable foot 24 telescopically received therein for adjusting the length of these legs. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, each foot 24 includes a tubular member 25 having an outer diameter slightly less than the inner diameter of the lower section 19 so that the former slides easily in the latter. A lock screw 27 in the lower portion '19 can be manually turned to apply pressure to the foot to lock it in position against movement when the adjustment is completed. A rubber boot 29 is provided on the lowermost end of each of the feet 24 to protect the surface on which it rests.

The other ends of the horizontal sections 14 and 15 have the short legs 30 and 31 thereon which include the upper portion 33 tapering down to cross at the pivot pin 34 which is preferably coaxial with the pivot pin 22 on the other end of the table 10. This allows the horizontal sections 14 and 15 to be moved for folding to a position adjacent each other, as will be further described. At the end of the upper portion of the short legs 30 and 31 is a lower portion 36 which extends upwardly at an angle closer to a horizontal than the upper portion to define an acute angle with the projected extension of the upper portion 33, and has the adjustable feet 38 secured therein in the same manner as the feet on the elongated legs. Thus, the feet 38 can be adjusted by loosening the adjustment screw 39 to vary the length of these legs and the lower location of the pivot pin 34 adds stability to the table.

The vertical height of the legs 30 and 31 determines the distance at which the horizontal sections 14 and 15 will be positioned above the surface 11a of the bed 11 which must be sufiicient to provide enough space for the patient to lie or rest comfortably under the horizontal sections. On the other hand, the length of the elongated legs 16 and 17 must be sufficient to rest on the floor 41 (FIG. 2) adjacent one side of the bed, and thus the adjustment of the elongated legs must be greater than that on the short legs.

The tray 43 which is supported on the horizontal sections 14 and 15 is of relatively flat plastic having a central recessed portion 44 in the center thereof, and a pair of resilient clips 45 adjacent each of the side edges 46 and 47 of the tray releasably engage the horizontal sections 14- and 15. These clips can take many different forms, and are preferably a rigid plastic with sufiicient resilience to allow the clip to snap over each of the tubular members. The clips not only hold the tray in position, but they maintain the horizontal sections 14 and 15 in a precise spaced relationship so that there is no tendency of the tubular members 12 and 13 to collapse during the time the tray is properly positioned thereon.

To erect the table 10, it is merely necessary to unfold the tubular members 12 and 13 and snap it still in place. The short legs 30 and 31 are placed on the bed surface 12 with the elongated legs 16 and 17 on the floor 41 adjacent the bed, as shown in FIG. 2. By using the adjustment screws 27, the length of the elongated legs 16 and 17 as well as the short legs 30 and 31 are adjusted to insure that the tray 43 is horizontal and that sufficient space exists beneath the tray for the person resting in the bed. Because of the presence of the short legs 30 and 31, the table can be moved into position on the bed by merely placing the feet 24 of the elongated legs 16 and 17 on the floor 41 adjacent the bed 11 and swinging the short legs 30 and 31 into position either horizontally or vertically. When use of the table is completed, it is removed by reversing this operation. When the tray 43 is removed from at least one of the horizontal sections 14 or 15, the horizontal sections 14 and can be folded to a position adjacent one another so that the tray table consumes a minimum space for storage.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6-9 wherein a container 50 is utilized on the tubular members 12 and 13 in place of the tray. This device includes a box member having a bottom surface 52 and four upstanding side walls 53, 54, 55 and 56 rigidly secured thereto. The bottom wall 52 is secured to the tubular members 12 and 13 of the horizontal sections 14 and 15 in the same manner as the tray 43 by the use of plastic clips 45 or their equivalent.

The cover 57 of the container 50 is pivotally mounted below the upper edge 58 of the wall 56 (FIG. 7) by the hinge 60 which permits the cover to pivot between a generally vertical position and a horizontal position wherein it closes the top of the container resting on the top edges 62 of the walls 53, 54 and 55. The chamfer 58a permits the cover 57 to pivot past the vertical a short distance to position the cover perpendicular to the line of sight of the patient sitting in the bed. When it is desired to use the wall as a book support (FIG. 6), it is merely necessary to withdraw the leg 64 from its retainer 65 and pivot it about its support bracket 66 to a position perpendicular to the cover 57 so that it engages the bottom wall 52 and holds the top Wall at an angle sufiicient to support a book in a convenient position for reading. Since the edge 58 of the front wall 56 extends above the hinge 60, the book engages this edge and cannot slide from the top surface of the cover.

When it is desired to use the container for other purposes (FIG. 9), the cover 57 can be raised to about the vertical position and locked in place by the foldable support 67 which collapses in the central portion thereof in the usual manner when it is desired to lower the cover. In this position, the container 50 can receive a wash basin 68 and the cover can have a mirror 69 thereon disposed for use by the patient. It is necessary to turn the container 50 completely around to shift it between its book 4 reading position (FIG. 6) and the position (FIG. 9) wherein the interior thereof is to be used. Of course, the cover 57 can be closed to present a fiat top surface similar to the tray 43.

Accordingly, the invention has provided a bed table constructed of a pair of tubular members with short legs on one end for engaging the top surface of the bed and elongated legs on the other end thereof for engaging the floor to provide stability to the table. The length of the legs can be adjusted, and the tubular member can support either a tray or a combination book rest and container for use by the patient.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. A table adapted for use with a bed or the like having a preset height and a flat surface on the top thereof, said table comprising a pair of generally U-shaped support members having parallel horizontal sections in the central portion thereof, said members having first legs formed on one end thereof having a length greater than said present height for engaging the floor and having second legs on the other ends thereof having a length substantially shorter than said first legs and less than said present height for engaging said fiat surface, said legs cooperating with each other to position said horizontal sections a predetermined height above said flat surface, and table means supported by said horizontal sections for stability regardless of the movement of the fiat surface or the normal forces applied to said table means.

2. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said legs has a foot on the lower end thereof, and means adjusting said feet with respect to said legs to vary the length of said legs to accommodate beds or the like of dilferent heights.

3. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein said table means is a flat tray releasably secured to said horizontal sections.

4. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein said table means is a combination book rest and container releasably secured to each of said horizontal sections- 5. A table as defined in claim 4 wherein said combina tion book rest and container includes an open top box releasably secured to said horizontal sections, a top pivotally secured below the upper edge of one side wall of said box, means to position said top at an angle to said one side wall so that a book can be supported thereon for reading, and means for holding said top in an open position for use as a wash stand or the like by a person resting on the fiat surface.

6. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein said table means is removable from at least one said horizontal section, and including means for pivoting said first and second legs at pivot points to enable said legs to be folded, and wherein said pivot point for said second legs is located above said fiat surface to enable said second legs to engage said fiat surface.

7. A table as defined in claim 6 wherein said pivot point for said first legs is horizontally aligned with said pivot point for said second legs to enable said legs to be folded to a position wherein said horizontal sections are adjacent each other.

8. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein said first legs include upper portions and lower portions, and wherein a first pivot means is located in said upper portions and said lower portions are longer than said upper portions and extend downwardly to define an acute angle with the projected extension of the upper portions.

9. A table as defined in claim 1 wherein said second legs include upper portions and lower portions, and wherein a second pivot means is located in said upper portions and said lower portions extend upwardly to define an acute angle with the projected extension of the upper portions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bonnifield 108-49 Gallowitz.

Merner 108-116 Heuser.

Olander et a1. 108--119 XR Norseen 108116 10 6 3,106,295 10/1963 Berlin 108-132 3,083,066 3/1963 Bedol 10850 3,401,650 9/1968 Terezas 10825 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner G. O. FINCH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 5332; 108-116 

